Malaysia at the AFC Asian Cup

The Malaysian team had qualified for at least three AFC Asian Cups in their history, in 1976, 1980 and 2007. However, Malaysia's best record in both tournament is just the group stage, winning only one game throughout three competitions.

Competitive results
AFC Asian Cup Finals record Qualifications record
Host/Year Round Position GP W D* L GS GA Round GP W D L GS GA
Hong Kong 1956 See Malaya national football team 1 See Malaya national football team 1
South Korea 1960
Israel 1964 Did not qualify Group Stage 3 1 0 2 9 10
Iran 1968 Did not qualify Group Stage 4 1 1 2 4 5
Thailand 1972 Did not qualify Group Stage 2 2 0 0 4 2
Iran 1976 Group Stage 5th of 6 2 0 1 1 1 3 Group Stage Q 4 3 1 0 6 1
Kuwait 1980 Group Stage 6th of 10 4 1 2 1 5 5 Group Stage Q 4 1 2 1 5 3
Singapore 1984 Did not qualify Group Stage 4 2 1 1 10 3
Qatar 1988 Did not qualify Group Stage 4 1 1 2 4 6
Japan 1992 Did not qualify Group Stage 3 0 2 1 2 6
United Arab Emirates 1996 Did not qualify Group Stage 2 1 1 0 5 2
Lebanon 2000 Did not qualify Group Stage 6 2 1 3 12 13
China 2004 Did not qualify Group Stage 6 1 2 3 9 12
MalaysiaIndonesia
ThailandVietnam
2007		 Group Stage 16th of 16 3 0 0 3 1 12 Qualified as co-host
Qatar 2011 Did not qualify Group Stage 4 0 0 4 2 12
Australia 2015 Did not qualify Group Stage 6 2 1 3 5 7
United Arab Emirates 2019 Did not qualify Third round 5 0 1 4 4 13
Qatar 2023 Qualified Third round 13 8 0 5 30 18
Total Appearance: 3 Best: 5th 9 1 3 5 7 20 - 54 17 14 23 79 87

Iran 1976
Main article: 1976 AFC Asian Cup

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Kuwait 2 2 0 0 3 0 +3 4 Advance to Knockout stage
2  China 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 1
3  Malaysia 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 1
Source: RSSSF
Kuwait 2–0 Malaysia
Al-Anberi 10'
Al-Dakhil 42'
China 1–1 Malaysia
Wang Jilian 58' Mokhtar Dahari 50'

Malaysia's inaugural performance at the 1976 Asian Cup is still considered a hard pill to swallow as the Chinese advanced to the last four via on goal difference.[1]

Kuwait 1980
Main article: 1980 AFC Asian Cup

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  South Korea 4 3 1 0 10 2 +8 7 Advance to Knockout stage
2  Kuwait (H) 4 2 1 1 8 5 +3 5
3  Malaysia 4 1 2 1 5 5 0 4
4  Qatar 4 1 1 2 3 8 −5 3
5  United Arab Emirates 4 0 1 3 3 9 −6 1
Source: RSSSF
(H) Hosts
South Korea 1–1 Malaysia
Choi Soon-ho 69' Zulkifli 90'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Sudarso Hardjowasito (Indonesia)
Kuwait 3–1 Malaysia
Kameel 20'
Yaqoub 53' (pen.), 77' (pen.)		 Zulkifli 44'
Attendance: 20,000
Malaysia 2–0 United Arab Emirates
Abdah 32'
Tukamin 89'
Malaysia 1–1 Qatar
Tukamin

Malaysia's performance at 1980 Asian Cup is still considered today as the finest performance ever of Malaysia despite not advancing to Knockout stage when Soh Chin Ann named into the Team of the Tournament by the AFC, the first Southeast Asian player to receive such honour, a record which would stand until the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.[2][3] since then, Malaysia did not qualify for the Asian Cup until 2007.

Indonesia/Malaysia/Thailand/Vietnam 2007
Main article: 2007 AFC Asian Cup

Group C
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Iran 3 2 1 0 6 3 +3 7 Advance to Knockout stage
2  Uzbekistan 3 2 0 1 9 2 +7 6
3  China 3 1 1 1 7 6 +1 4
4  Malaysia (H) 3 0 0 3 1 12 −11 0
Source:
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

All times are UTC+8.

Malaysia 1–5 China
Indra Putra 74' Report Han Peng 15', 55'
Shao Jiayi 36'
Wang Dong 51', 90+3'
Attendance: 21,155
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria)
Uzbekistan 5–0 Malaysia
Shatskikh 10', 89'
Kapadze 30'
Bakayev 45+2' (pen.)
Ibrahimov 85'		 Report
Attendance: 7,137
Malaysia 0–2 Iran
Report Nekounam 29' (pen.)
Teymourian 77'
Attendance: 4,520[4]
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria)

Malaysia's performance in 2007 Asian Cup is still remembered as the worst performance ever for a host nation in the Asian Cup. After the tournament, criticisms run high with the defeat of the Malay Tigers, even in the foreign press.[5]

References
  1. "Moments and Milestones: The 1976 AFC Asian Cup". AFC. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  2. "Vote for your best ever AFC Asian Cup defender". AFC. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  3. "Soh Chin Ann: The unforgettable Malaysian football icon". FIFA. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  4. "Asian Cup 2007 Results [Malaysia 0–2 Iran]". SportStats.com. 18 July 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  5. "Malaysian malaise in Group C". Agence France-Presse. ABC News. 13 July 2007. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
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